16.10.2025

Lengthy commutes deter 1 in 3 UK professionals from the office

Thirty-six per cent of UK professionals avoid more office days due to long commutes, nearly half already report rising travel costs as ‘hybrid creep’ quietly increases office attendance.

Data from Robert Walters’ newly released Benefits Guide – which surveyed over 2,000 white-collar professionals across the UK – reveals that as companies are increasing in-office days, professionals are struggling with the longer journeys and larger price-tags attached to attendance.

“Commutes are a critical factor in the flexible working debate, particularly as rising travel costs, delays and staff strikes make the daily commute more complicated than ever. Without sufficient support from employers, many workers may continue to resist returning to the office more frequently,” commented Lucy Bisset, Director of Robert Walters North.

Video-conferencing company, Owl Labs recently coined the term ‘'hybrid creep’ which sees employers quietly raising expected office days for staff without making official policy changes.

Indeed, the Robert Walters research found that 31 per cent of UK professionals have seen their required office days increase or been handed specified in-office days. However, the majority (66 per cent) say their company’s flexible working policy has stayed the same.

Despite this, almost half (47 per cent) of UK professionals have seen their commuting costs go up, with 29 per cent now spending up to £75 a week just to get into the office.

This means that over a quarter of UK professionals could be spending up to £300 each month to get to work.

These sharp increases are prompting many to seek new opportunities, with 52 per cent of active jobseekers citing a rise in their commuting costs over the past year.

Those battling increased costs are likely to be unaware of whether their current employer offers any help, with 51% saying they are ‘not sure’ if their employer provides any financial support for commutes.

Meanwhile, professionals happy in their current position are +30 per cent more likely to receive some form of support with their journeys to work compared to those actively looking for jobs.

Bisset continued: “Professionals who relocated during the pandemic are now among those most affected by return-to-office mandates. Combined with persistently high inflation and raised living costs, it’s no surprise that many workers are struggling with longer and more expensive commutes.

“Support doesn’t have to just come in the form of subsidies or loans. Lower-cost measures – like letting employees commute outside of peak hours or adopting flexible arrangements such as ‘microshifting,’’ where the workday is split into shorter, adaptable blocks of time instead of the traditional 9-to-5 – can significantly boost office attendance.”

The distance of daily commutes clearly influences who comes into the office, professionals with journeys between 15-30 mins are more than twice as likely to work fully in office than those who travel for over an hour (23 per cent vs. 9 per cent).

Lucy concludes: “Commutes can add hours onto the average working day and since the rise of hybrid working, they are increasingly viewed by professionals as an avoidable inconvenience rather than a necessary part of their job.

“Organisations who tackle commuting challenges through crafting more thoughtful working policies, adopting clearer communications on existing benefits or even trialing different ways of working, will ultimately find they have busier, more thriving offices.”

Posted by: FMJ 0 comment(s)